Lahore: Punjab’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, officially launched the Khelta Punjab Games 2024 on Thursday at the National Hockey Stadium. This marks the region’s largest sports event to date, initiated as a fulfillment of a commitment made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
According to Sports Board Punjab, the event was announced during a press conference where Minister Khokhar also revealed the logo for the Khelta Punjab Games. The games are structured in three tiers: Inter-Club events at the District level, Inter-District competitions at the Divisional level, and Inter-Divisional events at the Provincial level, set to commence on October 2.
Minister Khokhar detailed the extensive participation expected, with one million male and female athletes and 15,000 clubs taking part. The event promises significant cash prizes, totaling Rs 100 million, with an overall expenditure of Rs 300 million allocated for the games. The competitions will cover a wide range of sports, including athletics, cricket, badminton, football, hockey, and kabaddi, with additional games like basketball and archery at higher competition levels.
The closing ceremony, scheduled for November 7 at the Punjab Stadium, will feature Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as the chief guest. This grand sports initiative also aims to serve as a talent hunt to nurture players for national and international competitions.